Humidifier for furnace and home



Jan. 28, 1964 R. G. BAEHR 3,119,887

HUMIDIFIER FOR FURNACE AND HOME Filed July 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m W MM m WB W +1 16. A 111135! w .2 x 4 a T. 1 4 4 f/ R Ii ill R W 5 Y s B Jan. 28, 1964 R, G. BAEHR 3,119,887

HUMIDIFIER FOR FURNACE AND HOME Filed July 15. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT G. BAEHR A Tram 5 V United States Patent 3,119,887 HUMIDlFlER FOR FURNACE AND HQME Robert G. Baehr, 5717 N. 'Iracey Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Filed July 13, 1960, Ser. No. 42,679 1 Claim. (Cl. 26136) This invention concerns a humidification system and apparatus useful therein.

According to the invention there is provided a humidification unit adaptable for mounting in an air duct associated with a furnace, air conditioning system or the like. The unit includes a frame member containing fibrous filler normally maintained in a moist condition. A water circulation system is provided for supplying water to the fibrous filler and for draining excess water therefrom. The water drained away from the unit is recirculated back to the unit. An economy in water consumption is effected since excess water is recirculated rather than being conducted to a waste drain. The apparatus includes a water recirculation pump mounted in a tank provided with a float valve. The valve is connected to a water supply for filling the tank when the water level is low. The recirculation pump motor may be connected in circuit with an air blower in a furnace or an auxiliary fan in a duct to supply water to the humidification unit when the fan is operating. The pump motor may also be connected in circuit with a humidity responsive switch or thermostat and a fan for operating when the switch closes to turn on the fan.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an improved humidification system associated with an air duct. Other objects are to provide an improved humidification unit; to provide a novel water supply and recirculation apparatus in a humidification system; to provide a humidification system in which an economy in water consumption is effected by recirculation of water; to provide a recirculating pump in circuit with a fan and humidity switch.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a humidification unit according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the humidification unit and recirculating pump, mounted in a cooperative assembly.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through an air duct showing the assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4 on a reduced scale associated therewith.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view partially diagrammatic in form of a furnace duct system provided with a pair of humidification units according to the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a humidification unit 10, which includes a trough 12, having a floor 14 inclined downwardly from one end wall 16 to the other end wall 18. At the bottom of wall 18 is a hole 20 through which water collecting in the trough may drain. A spout 22 may be provided below the hole for guiding the water draining out of hole 24). Alternately a pipe 24 shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1 may be inserted in hole 20 for conducting water away from the trough. The trough has horizontal flanges 26, 28, 30 extending around its sides and distal end. These flanges have holes 32 which may receive bolts or screws for securing the trough to an air duct. A pair of channel members 34, 36 are provided at opposite ends of the trough in upstanding position and may be secured by screws 33. The members 34, 36 slidably receive a removable humidifier in the form of a rectangular, tubular mesh screen 38 filled with a fibrous material 40. At the bottom of the screen is secured a plate 42 which supports the filler 40. The screen is open at the top. A pipe 44 having bent ends 45 fitted into the top of the screen is disposed over the filler 40. The pipe 44 has a series of holes 46 at its underside. A filler tube 48 passes through wall 18 and connects with pipe 44 for supplying water thereto. The water entering pipe 44 sprays, drips or seeps out of holes 46 on to the fibrous filler 40. Excess water drains down through the filler 40 and out into the trough through screen 38. From the trough the water may be conducted via spout 22 or pipe 24 to a water tank 50 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Tank 51) has a rear wall 52, sides 53, 54, a front wall 55 and bottom 56. Water is supplied to the tank from a water supply through pipe 57 which passes through side wall 53 and terminates at valve 58. Valve 58 has a water discharge nipple 59. The valve is controlled by float 6%) attached to the end of an arm 62. When the float rises, the water supply is cut off. When the float falls, the water supply is replenished. A drain plug 63 is mounted in bottom 56. Spout 22 fits in and through a hole 23 formed in wall 52. Tube 43 passes through a hole 63 in wall 52 and is connected to a water recirculation pump 70. This pump has a water inlet 71 underneath the water W in the tank. The trough 12 and wall 52 may be secured together by screws 51. The unit 10 is thus arranged to be supplied with water by pump and to drain excess water from the trough into the tank.

FIG. 5 shows how the assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be associated with an air duct 72 in which is mounted a fan 74. This fan drives an air stream S through the moist humidifier 10, which extends vertically across and around the duct. The motor 75 of the fan is in series with a humidity switch 76, motor 73 of pump 70 and the power supply terminals 77. When the ambient conditions of the room where switch 76 is located calls for more humidity, the switch closes. Fan 74 and pump 70 are turned on together and humidified air is delivered at the outlet end 72 of the duct.

FIG. 6 shows another humidification system in which a furnace 80 has an air blower 81 mounted at the entrance to main duct 82. The duct 82 has two branches S3, 84. In each of the branches is a humidifier unit 10. The trough 12 of each unit is attached to the underside of the branch duct while the screened humidifier extends vertically across the duct. Tubes 48 which supply water to each humidifier are connected to a common supply tube 49 extending from the pump 70*. The pump is disposed in tank 50* mounted on the side of the furnace. Drain pipes 24 and 24' are connected to common pipe 24 which empties into the tank.

The fibrous fillers 40 serve as filter elements in addition to humidifiers. When the fibrous fillers become clogged, they can be discarded and replaced with new fillers. The apparatus can be installed in a warm air furnace system with or without auxiliary fans such as shown in FIG. 5. The humidification units are remotely located from the furnace so no water can drain down into the furnace. The units are easily installed and removed for servicing. No connections to waste drains or sewers are required. Humidification is efficient since no free water is available for blowing into the air stream. All air passing the humidifier is moistened by water vapor evaporated from the fillers 40. The system is controllable by a humidity switch to effect humidification of air streams.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a humidification unit, a rectangular trough having vertical side and end Walls and a floor inclined downwardly from one of the end walls to the other end wall, said other end wall having a drain opening therein located close to the floor, horizontally disposed flanges extending outwardly of said side walls, said flanges having holes to receive fastening elements for mounting the trough horizontally in an air duct, a pair of channel members vertically disposed and mounted at inner opposing sides of the end walls With the open portions of the channels facing each other, an upright, rectangular enclosure of screen material slidably and removably disposed between said channel members, a plate closing the bottom of the enclosure, a fibrous filling in said enclosure, a tube extending upwardly along the enclosure, a perforated pipe connected to the tube and disposed over said filler for discharging water thereon, a tank remote from said trough underlying said drain opening to receive Water therefrom, said floor having laterally inclined side portions so that water draining from said filler flows to the drain opening, a recirculating pump located in said tank and connected to said tube to return water from the tank to the fibrous filler for moistening the same, a Water supply connected to the tank, and a float valve in said tank operatively connected to the Water supply and located to replenish and maintain the water in the tank. at a predetermined level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,414 Braemer Jan. 17, 1928 2,092,630 Bailey Sept. 7, 1937 2,167,466 Shawhan et al. July 25, 1939 2,201,647 Feinberg May 21, 1940 2,239,595 Cummings Apr. 22, 1941 2,404,479 Essick July 23, 1946 2,635,027 Rasmussen Apr. 14, 1953 2,766,027 Herr Oct. 9, 1956 2,838,130 Lemmon June 10, 1958 2,838,294 Skerritt June 10, 1958 2,860,228 Boyle et al. Nov. 11, 1958 2,939,687 Goettl June 7, 1960 3,033,193 Rathman May 8, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,712 Australia June 6, 1940 

